Emergency evacuation system

Abstract

A system adapted for use in evacuating a building includes a track assembly mounted to an exterior wall of the building. More particularly, the track assembly extends vertically along the exterior wall so as to be accessible by a user from the building. The track assembly is designed to permit the user to descend along the track assembly at a predetermined speed when the user is engaged to the track assembly through an engaging mechanism.

I claim:  
     
         1 . Apparatus adapted for use in evacuating a building, comprising a track assembly mounted to an exterior wall of a building, said track assembly extending vertically along the exterior wall so as to be accessible by a user from the building, said track assembly being sized and shaped so as to permit the user to descend along said track assembly at a predetermined speed when said user is engaged to said track assembly through engaging means.  
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said track assembly includes a first track movably engageable by an engaging member of the engaging means such that the engaging member can glide along said first track at the predetermined speed.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said fist track has a sinuous shape.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said first track extends vertically from a first location positioned adjacent to a top of the building to a second location positioned adjacent to a bottom of the building.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said first track includes at least a pair of first rail sections defining a descending path therebetween, the engaging member being movable along said descending path between said first rail sections.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said track assembly includes a plurality of second tracks extending generally upwardly from said first track for receiving the engaging member of the engaging means.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each of said second tracks is positioned along the exterior wall of the building so as to be accessible by a user from a window of the building.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each of said second tracks includes an entry point for receiving the engaging member of the engaging means and a lead-in section connected to the first track for permitting the engaging member to move into said first track from said entry point.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each of said second tracks includes at least a pair of second rail sections defining an entry path such that the engaging member is movable along the entry path between said second rail sections.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said track assembly includes a third track for permitting the engaging member to exit from said track assembly.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said third track is oriented in a vertical manner and includes at least a pair of third rail sections engageable by the engaging member.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said track assembly includes a fourth track extending between said first track and said third track.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said fourth track is oriented in a substantially horizontal manner and includes at least a pair of fourth rail sections engageable by the engaging member.  
     
     
         14 . In combination, a track assembly mounted to an exterior wall of a building, said track assembly extending vertically along the exterior wall so as to be accessible by a user from the building; and securing means for movably securing the user to said track assembly, said track assembly being sized and shaped so as to permit the user to descend along said track assembly at a predetermined speed when said securing means is engaged with said track assembly.  
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein said track assembly includes a first track having a sinuous shape; and said securing means includes an engaging member for movably engaging said first track such that said engaging member can glide along said first track at said predetermined speed.  
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein said first track includes at least a pair of first rail sections defining a first path therebetween, said engaging member being movable along said first path between said first rail sections.  
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 16 , wherein said track assembly includes a plurality of second tracks extending generally upwardly from said first track for receiving said engaging member, each of said second tracks being positioned along the exterior wall of the building so as to be accessible by the user from a window of the building.  
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 17 , wherein each of said second tracks includes an entry point for receiving said engaging member and a lead-in section connected to said first track for permitting said engaging member to move into said first track from said entry point, each of said second tracks including at least a pair of second rail sections defining a second path such that said engaging member is movable along said second path between said second rail sections.  
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 18 , wherein said track assembly includes a third track for permitting said engaging member to exit said track assembly, said third track being oriented in a vertical manner and including at least a pair of third rail sections engageable by said engaging member.  
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 19 , wherein said track assembly includes a fourth track extending between said first track and said third track, said fourth track being oriented in a substantially horizontal manner and including at least a pair of fourth rail sections engageable by said engaging member.  
     
     
         21 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein said securing means includes a harness sized and shaped so as to be worn by a user, said engaging member including a wheel engageable with said track assembly.